The Dittmar Gallery: Build Her a Myth
Norbucks is one of the most chaotic places on campus. People come and go, loud music plays, and the smell of coffee circulates the air. Yet, between the never-ending Starbucks line and the huge flat-screen TV lies a hidden gem: The Dittmar Gallery—an extreme contrast to the commotion of Norris. The Dittmar Gallery is a student-run creative space that highlights the work of emerging artists from the Midwest. Established in 1972, the gallery promotes artists who exist “on the margins of the mainstream art world.” This year, from September 15 to October 17, the gallery displayed an exhibit titled, “Anonymous Women,” which included photos of women blending into the backgrounds of their homes. This exhibit challenged the stereotypical roles of women. Currently, the gallery features the exhibit “Build Her a Myth” by Carrie Schumacher.
Schumacher creates dresses from the pages of romance novels as a comment on unrealistic societal norms. She draws on the idea that women often base their personal happiness on the way they appear to others. Schumacher goes further to say that fashion magazines and romance novels plant unrealistic expectations in women’s minds, leading them to believe that ideal beauty and fairytale romances are achievable. The dresses in the exhibit can’t actually be worn, highlighting the uselessness of “feminine myths.”
This past Wednesday, I spent my morning in the gallery. As I moved from mannequin to mannequin, examining the intricate details of each dress, I was mesmerized by the level of craftsmanship. These dresses are dramatic, beautiful, and incredibly powerful. Most importantly, they serve as a necessary critique of the pressures placed on women to act and appear a certain way. Often times, women will look at models in a magazine or read juicy romance novels and translate those ideals into real life. Women believe that in order to be beautiful, they must have silky blown out hair and perfectly contoured cheekbones. But, as Schumacher stresses, these standards are simply unachievable. Everyone has flaws. That’s what makes us human.
At STITCH, we embrace our differences. We encourage our readers to find the beauty in their imperfections. The more we accept ourselves for who we are, the happier we will be. I highly recommend visiting “Build Her a Myth. ” It allows you to think about the ways you present yourself to the world; whether you control your own happiness. Of course, most of us love to read fashion magazines and exciting romance novels, but there’s a difference between the fictions we read and the realities we live. Appreciate your flaws, recognize your differences, and you will be surprised at the confidence you will gain.
